‘Dealing With The Legacy Of Slavery Is About Much More Than Cash Payments’: Newsom Says As He Signs Restitution Office

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday signed legislation creating a new state agency tasked with administering restitution for descendants of enslaved people. The move, authorized under Senate Bill 518, marks a significant step toward addressing the historical legacy of slavery in California, though it stops short of providing direct cash reparations.

The legislation follows a five-year effort initiated after the murder of George Floyd, when Newsom formed a task force to study the impact of slavery in the state and recommend potential reparations policies. The panel’s findings, released more than two years ago, outlined a comprehensive set of proposals intended to address systemic inequities affecting Black Californians, according to Politico.

Speaking on the podcast Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay, Newsom highlighted the creation of the new agency as a step toward addressing these longstanding issues. “I signed a bill two days ago with the Black Caucus as it relates to creating a new office to address these systemic issues,” he said. The governor reiterated that dealing with the legacy of slavery extends beyond financial payments, emphasizing structural and institutional remedies.

A Compromise Between Ideals And Reality

Efforts to establish reparations policies in California have faced numerous obstacles over the years. In the post-pandemic political climate, the state confronted multibillion-dollar budget deficits, complicating proposals for direct monetary compensation to descendants of enslaved people. Newsom himself had previously expressed skepticism about issuing cash payments, stating in 2023, “Dealing with the legacy of slavery is about much more than cash payments,”.

Last year, attempts to advance similar legislation were hindered by late amendments sought by Newsom and disagreements within the California Legislative Black Caucus. These factors contributed to the failure of a bill that would have provided redress to victims of racially motivated eminent domain, with the governor noting the absence of an administrative structure to manage such a program.

Although the legislation stops short of direct cash reparations, advocates and lawmakers hailed the creation of the agency as a symbolic and practical milestone. By establishing an administrative framework, the state can begin to address systemic inequities through targeted programs, policy development, and community engagement.

The bill’s passage represents a compromise between progressive elements advocating for cash payments and a more cautious approach favored by Newsom and fiscally minded legislators. To achieve consensus, proponents of the measure reframed the package as the “Road to Repair,” avoiding the politically charged term “reparations” while maintaining the focus on structural remedies.